Bad deal w/K Kornbluth in FL, aka 71 T/A

[jjump59]

Just need to vent and get other opinions. I purchased a set of front turn signal housing's from him (Ken Kornbluth aka 71 T/A). They were advertised here under 70 Gto parts. Sent $45.00 total (5.00 shipping.) Got them and found they didn't fit. e-mailed him, he responded that they were the same ones Ames sells and that was all he had to say. I called Ames, they said they were not and they didn't have an answer to what these might fit. After asking around I found out they were for a firebird. e-mailed Ken and told him what I found. He apoligized for the mistake and told me I should resale them as they were worth more than the Gto parts. I told him I was going to return them. Sent them out and recieved refund of $40.00. So here I am out $10.00 for shipping. I've e-mailed him 3 times but he never returns them. I would agree if these were the right parts and I just didn't like them or something but they were not even what he advertised, why should I be out the money? Anyone else have dealings with him? Am I wrong to feel this way? Thanks

[jjump59]

Just need to vent and get other opinions. I purchased a set of front turn signal housing's from him (Ken Kornbluth aka 71 T/A). They were advertised here under 70 Gto parts. Sent $45.00 total (5.00 shipping.) Got them and found they didn't fit. e-mailed him, he responded that they were the same ones Ames sells and that was all he had to say. I called Ames, they said they were not and they didn't have an answer to what these might fit. After asking around I found out they were for a firebird. e-mailed Ken and told him what I found. He apoligized for the mistake and told me I should resale them as they were worth more than the Gto parts. I told him I was going to return them. Sent them out and recieved refund of $40.00. So here I am out $10.00 for shipping. I've e-mailed him 3 times but he never returns them. I would agree if these were the right parts and I just didn't like them or something but they were not even what he advertised, why should I be out the money? Anyone else have dealings with him? Am I wrong to feel this way? Thanks

[larry davis]

Nope! I'd be pissed off too!
That's way raw.
His mistake all the way. :mad:

[71 T/A]

Wow, all this for a few bucks. I made an honest mistake. I received incorrect information that the housings fit Goats as well as Birds but after the deal found out that's not true. I've made many, many sales through this website and thank PY for all the help.

That was my first and only time I've ever had to make a refund which I did immediately. If the purchaser of those housings wants a refund for $5 (initial shipping) which I admit you asked for, post your address here. I'll get it out right away.

But quite frankly, to post all these negative comments for just a few dollars in shipping makes you come off as a real jerk. Many people have used this forum have lost upwards of thousands of dollars from businesses and fellow Pontiac owners who run shady operations. To throw me in the same group is not right.

[PLAY400]

It's not a few bucks but the principle. I would have given a full refund including shipping had it been my mistake. And because we are all honest people here I would have refunded the money as soon as I was made aware of my error instead of waiting to get the parts back. And you don't have his address now???????????? alan

[71 T/A]

In a very similar instance, a large parts supplier (not PY, Ames or Year One) did not refund the shipping costs to me when they made a mistake. I have always heard shipping costs were not refundable.

I don't have the guy's address anymore. I don't save people's addresses after the sale. I have been selling parts left over from a restoration. I don't have a business selling parts so I guess I don't know all the "rules." I've sold over 90% of the parts left over from my T/A's restoration and this is the first problem. Remember, I refunded the part's purchase price of $40 immediately as soon as I received the part. Just like any honest business would have done.
This guy is acting like I cheated him out of hundreds of dollars.

Yes, I see where there's principle involved and I'll send him the $5 he asked for. But, keep in mind most businesses won't refund shipping costs.

...And even if it is principle, we're still talking about $5.

[Marty Phipps]

I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about this whole topic.
I buy and sell alot of stuff on ebay.
So far, I'd much rather deal with fellow Pontiac enthusiast on this site, then people from ebay.
I've been burned by people not paying.
Or else they'll have buyers remorse after the auction closed.
The real kicker for me though is still pretty recent.
A jerk advertised a 400 Firebird hood without a photo.
His comment was to email and he'd send a photo.
I though that because this guy had 10 positives, it'd be a good risk to place a bid before the pic. was sent.
At the end of the auction, I was the high bidder for $112.50
8 bids total, but only 3 different names.
I received an email from him with a different email address then listed.
NEVER DID GET A PICTURE.
When the JERK finally got around to letting me know the shipping charges.
The hood ended up costing me almost $300.00
I figure live and learn, at least I'd have a 400 hood. all this is about 3 months time
The hood finally shows up, it's a plain hood.
I actually find his phone number on the web, call him, left a message with his wife to call me.
Then finally receive an email from him the next day.
In a nut shell I was told to "go piss up a rope"
He wasn't refunding any thing.
Of course I start rereading his e-mails.
One of the emails he sent me was actually the same as the largest bidder against me.
GEE GO FIGURE I WAS SHILLED BY THIS GUY.
EBAYS way of handling this was to suspend the creep for a week.
While I was ripped off for $300.00 (actually $275.00)
My point to all this is this.
99.9 % of the time Pontiac folks are the greatest people to deal with, and do everything to help other poncho enthusiast.
So you have two ways to look at this particular dilema.
Yeah there's the issue of the $10.00.
But 71 T/A did refund the purchase price.
I've made mistakes before as a seller too.
Some times I've refunded the full price including the shipping, others I've split the shipping cost, and others I had the buyer absorb them.
I figure that if the mistake was purely mine, then I owe that person the full amount he paid.
If there was a mistake on both sides, then maybe both side should be willing to work things out.

[jjump59]

your right it's such a small amount of money and I feel for the guy's on this board that got taken for more but it's not about the money. it's about doing the right thing. I always agreed that it was an honest mistake and I didn't fault you for it in any way. When I e-mailed you 3 seperate times about it you just ignored me, I wasn't nasty, I didn't call you any bad names, I just ask what you thought about it and asked for a reply. I guess you couldn't find the time to respond. In my last e-mail I told you that if I couldn't get you to respond I would post it here and see what everyone else's opinion was. I waited another week and here it is.

how can you beleive that I should pay for any part of the shipping when the mistake was made on your end. I've done business with company's alot and if they make the mistake they pay shipping both ways. if I recieve the part I ordered and i'm not happy with quality etc. then I pay shipping back, always been that way. I sell alot of parts over the internet and I've never treated anyone this way. I would pay shipping both ways if the part is not what I said it was, why should the guy on the other end pay anything?

Your first response on this board did more damage than I could ever do. You honestly believe that since I wasn't ripped off for as much as some of the other guy's here, I'm a jerk. I'll send you my address again and you do what ever you think is right. If you need the ten bucks so bad, keep it, but you gotta know that it's wrong and I can't think of any excuse that makes it ok!

For the other Pontiacer's out there, thanks for understanding the deal. A few did think that the money wasn't enough to worry about but most agreed that the money wasn't the point all along. To ignore someone that's trying to work with you after a business deal is wrong. I thought maybe my thinking was all wrong about this but you helped me see that my thinking was on the right track. thanks, Jeff

[sherm455]

I haven't had too many parts I have had to return. I did buy a set of door panels from PY and they direct shipped from PUI. I got them and they were creased, poor workmanship. I sent them back and PY reimbursed me the $20 for shipping. I didn't think they would pay for shipping, but they did. I have had other deals when shipping back a returned part, it was my responsibility.

[71 T/A]

JJump,
First you ask for $5, now it's $10. What, if I don't send you $15, will you make a public issue out of this again?

I agree with you now that I should have sent you your $45 instead of the $40 that I did. Yeah, it was an honest mistake on my part. Send me an e-mail with your address. I'll send you the $5. I know it'll make your day.

I called you a jerk not because others have gotten screwed over but because you've made way too much out of this.

BTW, most businesses don't refund shipping even on defective parts. Some do, but far from all. I know, I've had to return parts many times.

Remember everone out there in webworld, this is about just $5. Principle or not. It's about $5. How many of you would run to write a check and mail a letter for a $5 refund. Youi'd do it when you had the chance. I didn't realize that it's that big a deal.

[2FAST4U]

Full refund on product and shipping! Thats how it goes... It was your mistake Ken! Just my .02. -Chris ;)

[63 Pontiac]

jjump59, I understand where you are coming from. I've had 2 raw deals recently, first is from the "king of Pontiacs" in CA, sold me some stuff I later found out I don't need\can't use + plus overcharged + COD'd extra $37 after I told total would be $445 (came to $482 total). Second is for $370, situation unsolved at this point. Yes, principle is everything.

[2FAST4U]

In more ways then one.... principle is everything, including your monetary principle on the product purchase! :D

[71 T/A]

Sure principle is important. But we're not talking $300-$400 or more. We're talking about someone who felt he should have received $45 instead of the $45 I sent. Huge difference.

Plus, to state my name, web name, what state I live in with "Bad deal" attached to it all is a little much in my book. I estimate I've made about 60-70 sales in the last three years through this site and this is the first complaint.

Personally, I couldn't slam someone in this forum over $5. I just couldn't do it. Plus, I don't think 99% of people could do it. It's too petty. Yes, I was wrong and will pay the difference (as soon as JJump e-mails me) but do I really deserve this abuse for $5?

[Txbobcat]

If you were hungry I would buy you a meal or groceries or homeless a set of clothes or blanket or broke down a gallon or 2 of gas and never ask for anything in return But dont you dare beat me out of a nickel.

[71 T/A]

I sent JJump a check for $10 today. He'll get it some time next week. I believe this case before the Pontiac Guys Court of Appeals can now be dismissed.

[David Holmberg]

I've delt with 71 T/A in the past and he always did what he said he would. Never had a problem with him.

I agree the shipping should be refunded as it was his mistake. He did refund it and now it's over.

Glad it worked out for you.

[walsh1]

We are all big boys here, don't we all assume some risk when dealing thru the mail? Wouldnt it be wise to find out the sellers refund policy BEFORE the transaction? In this situation it seems fair to me that the seller pays 100% of the shipping. Thats All.

[berrygoat]

71 T/A, since your going to be sending out checks, can you send me one too !!! LOL

[2FAST4U]

71 T/A- you're a good man!

[Ccass]

Here's the way we have always done returns and our customers seem to feel it is fair.

1. Full refund + shipping both ways if we "clearly" goofed.

2. Full refund without shipping if part was ok to restock and customer just didn't like the quality of the part. Most of you know that there isn't much reproduced that is perfect.

3. Restock charge if part was purchased many moons ago, was a restockable item and customer only wants a refund.

4. We don't take back parts purchased many moons ago that we no longer carry. It would be like taking a car cassette player back to Wal-Mart when all they sell is cd units now. ;)

With us there are so many different and unique circumstances. We just try to put ourselves in the customer's shoes and do what is fair. We also expect that the customer put themselves in our shoes and usually it works out.

[dj21502]

thanks ccass for posting your business ethics. maybe others will get the hint.

[jjump59]

OK, got full $10.00 refund from Ken. As I told him before I don't think he's a bad person because of this but I am surprised by his reaction. I tried to contact him about this 3 times without any response. That just made me feel like he didn't care about it, was not willing to even discuss it. Even after telling him I would post here to get opinion from other Pontiac guys, no response. Then he comes on here and tells me how wrong it is that I posted this here for everyone to see! I got the refund and that will end this deal, he only sent it because of pressure from you guys. He continues to say that this was only over $5.00 or $10.00 and it isn't a big deal. In my opinion he's missing the big picture and from the response here you guys see this too! I'll stop complaining about it now. Thanks everyone for your input, thanks Ken for the refund. This is a great site, I haven't posted here in a long time but I read it every day.

[Glenn]

Great...I hope we can put this $10.00 big deal to bed. "Tempest In A Tea Pot"

[Larry 67]

Mistakes have been made...no heads rolled...restitution has been made...well done smile.gif ...alls well that ends well...and there it is.